Saturday, February 09, 2008

A resurgent Taliban and its terrorist activities isn't the only concern with Afghanistan.

In recent months there's been a big increase in the production of heroin and more of the drug is finding its way onto Australian streets.

Afghan Brown heroin used to be rare in Australia, but a boom in opium production has made Afghanistan a major exporter and Australia a prime market.

...According to figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Afghan opium production is booming. It now accounts for 90 per cent of the world's supply. And much of this is produced in areas controlled by the Taliban.

Traditionally, Australian heroin users preferred so-called China White heroin which is imported from south-east Asia. But now drug users' groups say there is an unprecedented shift towards Afghan Brown heroin in some parts of the country.

Cheaper, smokeable heroin means more weekend users and more junkies. More junkies, more crime. More crime, higher insurance.

What the Taliban once took away, the 'War on Terror' has now returned.